Roseanne Byford

Blogmas day 6 is here and I thought I’d  share an update of how my colouring advent calender is coming along!

Here it is:

It’s going well so far, after 6 days!

The Christmas scene is really coming to life now.

It’s been quite fun colouring this is each evening as I always eat my chocolate in the morning so it’s nice to still have something to open and do when I get home.

My Cadbury chocolate calender has nice little messages and jokes in it each day. Here’s one that made me chuckle!

How do Snowmen get about?

They ride an icicle.

Only 19 days to go!

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

Its Blogmas day 5! ☃️

Now I’m a fan of getting into my pj’s and comfy clothes as soon as I am home in the evening at any time of the year but, at Christmas as the winter draws in I love it even more. Here are my favorites for the festive month of December.

I got this two piece set a year or so ago from Sainsburys. They are super cosy and warm. I love the cute ears ^^

This is my reindeer onesie! Now I love a onesie, they are so comfortable and snug. This one was brought a couple of Christmases ago, from Primark, to wear as a festive costume for a night out. It swiftly became a staple to wear during the festive season for me and I even wore it for a couple of Christmas dinners with family!

and last but not least… The Christmas jumper!

I firmly believe that everyone should own a Christmas jumper. This is my Christmas jumper that I purchased from Primark last year ready for Christmas jumper day at work. We are doing this again on the 8th of December so that will be fun and festive!

I loved this one as soon as I saw it as it has lots going on.

It even has bells on it that actually jingle! So you can hear me coming when I’m wearing it. Such fun!

I also really like the Christmas lights in sequins, along the collar.

oh and don’t forget your Christmas hat/headgear!

So remember, don’t be afraid to be cosy at Christmas. Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and gets you into the festive spirit!

Thanks for reading.

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

Today, on day 4 of Blogmas I thought I’d share my top 5 favourite Christmas songs.

At this time of year there’s nothing better than a Christmas song to spread festive cheer and they are great to listen to when you are doing Christmassy things such as putting up decorations, baking festive treats or doing your Christmas shopping.

So here goes:

1. Last Christmas by Wham!

I know this is a cheesy one but it’s always been my favourite, it’s so good to sing along to and it’s probably because I like a few boy bands that I enjoy this so much (even if Wham were a bit before my time!)

2. Merry Christmas everybody by Slade

As soon as you hear this one you know it’s Christmas. It’s so upbeat and festive and I love singing along to Noddy Holders ‘IT’S CHRISTMASSSSSSSS’ at the end!

3. Merry Christmas everyone by Shakin Stevens

Such a good sing a long Christmas song! This is always one of the first ones I listen to when Christmas rolls around each year.

4. I wish it could be Christmas everyday by Wizzard and Roy Wood.

This one always makes me think back to my childhood.  I used to hear this song, sing along and think I really wish it could be Christmas everyday!! As a child that sounds like the most amazing thing ever. As an adult I’ve realised that Christmas would quickly lose its appeal if it was everyday but I still love belting this one out all the same.

5. Step into Christmas by Elton John.

This is a really upbeat one and always makes me want to dance and sing along which is why it’s in my top 5. If your ever not feeling festive listen to this one and you’ll soon want to ‘step’ right into Christmas yourself.

So those are my top 5 Christmas songs!

And if there are any Heart radio listeners out there they’ll know that every morning they do ‘sleeps till santa’ which is a musical festive countdown to the big day and me and my sister like to listen to it on our way to work. They put a Christmas song on afterwards too, it puts you in a lovely festive mood early in the morning!

21 sleeps to go!

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

I thought I’d just do a quick blog post about something that has made me happy and really motivated at what is quite a difficult time of year for someone trying to get to target.

As you may know from a previous post of mine I am currently doing Slimming World and it was going really well, Id lost 2 stone!! but ever since the summer holidays and our holiday to Italy I have struggled to get back on it and see the loses that I had previously been getting.

This was quite upsetting and I have at times been very unmotivated to continue but I feel like I have really made progress over the last few weeks. After going up and down and up and down (in terms of my weight) since these holidays I have now finally managed to get down to what I weighed before they began, HORRAY!

I lost 1 lb last week and this week I lost 2 lb. It probably doesn’t sound alot but I am so chuffed and because I have really stayed on plan, weighed out my healthy extras I can see that it does still have the results that make it so worthwhile and this will keep me motivated for the coming week.

I’m hoping for a 2 lb loss again next week and I’ll be back to having lost 1 1/2 stone again. I really hope I can do it 🙂

It’s so tricky at this time of year with all the yummy food surrounding us but I will enjoying Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing  day so much more if I have worked hard up to it.

So, it’s looking up! I’m getting there and I’m enjoying it alot more recently too.

Thanks for reading.

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

Day 3 is here!

Every year I try and make some yummy festive goodies for my family and friends so, I thought I’d share with you some ideas I’ve done previously and some that I am planning on doing this year!

I love mince pies! Any sort are yummy, which is strange because as a child I thought they were horrible.

This recipe is a Slimming World friendly one but don’t be put off they are super delicious…just a little smaller.

I made these last year for me and Tim to enjoy and for my sister as part of her Christmas present.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

low calorie cooking spray
227g/ 8oz plain flour
a pinch of salt
113g/ 4oz butter or margarine,cut into small cubes
16 level tbsp mincemeat
1 level tsp icing sugar, to dust

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.

Lightly spray some bun tins with low calorie cooking spray.

Make the pastry; Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the fat and gently rub it in with your fingertips.

Add sufficient cold water to mix to a ball that leaves the sides of the bowl clean. Rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface.

 Cut out 32 rounds with a 7.5cm/3 inch fluted cutter. Use to line the prepared bun tins.

Divide the mincemeat between the pastry cases.

 Roll out the remaining pastry trimmings and make some little stars with a star cutter. Use to decorate the tops of the tarts.

Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and lightly coloured. Cool on a wire rack and dust lightly with the icing sugar.

I’ve made them once so far, this year, here’s a picture of my attempt. Me and Tim really enjoyed them with a cuppa!

Another homemade gift that I’ve made before is ‘Hot chocolate marshmallow stirrers’

These are easy to make and really yummy.

You’ll need the large marshmallows, I got mine from Tesco. (Other supermarkets are available) A large chocolate bar, some chocolate sprinkles & skewers.

Melt some chocolate of your choice, in a bowl over hot water, my preferred method then pop the marshmallows onto the end of a skewer and dip into the chocolate generously!

Once you have a nice covering of chocolate dip the chocolate end into the sprinkles and cool in the fridge until the chocolate has hardened.

I wrapped the Marsmallow with little cellophane bags and tied with ribbon. Tie a hot chocolate sachet in with the ribbon and you have one yummy hot chocolate ready to go!

One last little idea that I love is ‘chocolate dipped oreo snowman pops’
(That’s a mouthful!)

You’ll need lolly sticks, oreos,  white chocolate and sprinkles & choc chips to decorate.

Push the stick into the creamy filling between the oreos.

Melt your chocolate the same way as the marshmallows and cover your oreos in the chocolate.

Stick on your sprinkles & choc drops to make the snow man’s face.

Leave to cool in the fridge! So easy.

I hope this has given you a few ideas, let me know what you think and if you try any of these ideas how you got on.

I’ll be doing another homemade Christmas present post later on in blogmas but focusing on crafty ones as these are one of my hobbies.

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

So let’s talk advent calenders…

I’ve got two this year, but before you think that’s a bit greedy, allow me to explain. One is a yummy dairy milk one, my favourite chocolate, and the second one is a colouring in one.

My dairy milk one.

Tims Lindor one.

Now you may think the colouring one sounds a bit childish but as mentioned in a previous blog adult colouring books are all the rage at the moment, I’ve got three different ones of varying themes, and when I saw the advent calender one I had to get it.

There’s a door to colour in each day and it eventually makes a colourful Christmas scene!

It stands up on its own, a bit like a book, so that when your done you can keep it up as a nice decoration if you want to.

I’m probably going to have my chocolate calender in the morning because I’m too impatient and I’ll do the colouring in one when I get home from work.

I love having advent calenders as they bring a little bit of excitement each day!

Only 23 days to go!

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

So, for those who don’t know what  blogmas is let me explain…

Blogmas is blogging everyday until Christmas day! That’s 25 festive blogs talking about all things Christmas.

For my first blog I’m going to talk about my first bit of Christmas preparation for the festive season and that’s putting up the decorations. Now alot of people have told me I put them up too early but, I like to get at least a months worth of festive cheer from them so up they went the 25th November.

Here are some pictures:

The silver hanging garlands are in my hallway but I also have red ones in the lounge.

Lots of lights! These are in my hallway.

Snowflakes!

I love having lots of decorations up, they make me feel all Christmassy amd excited every time I walk into the room.

We put the tree up this Sunday (29th) We waited until then so that we could do it together. Our tree has a traditional theme of red, gold and green.

We did the lights first which really brings the tree to life and I love how the light catches the baubles, looks so pretty.

Next we put on the red beads, red and gold tinsel and then the baubles and decorations.

Red, gold and green.

The finished tree.

The all important star on top!

Our ‘R’ and ‘T’ decorations.

Our lovely baubles from our friends Sam & Livys wedding

I love Christmas and now that our home is decorated and blogmas has begun I’m getting really excited, it’s such a fun, happy time of year!

Happy 1st of December,  only 24 days to go.

What’s the first thing you like to do to get into the Christmas spirit? Let me know.

Until Next time, 

Roseanne 🙂

I don’t wear very much make up but there are a few bits that I really like to use so I thought I’d blog about them.

Now anyone that knows me, knows that I am a nail varnish addict, I have so many colours.

I usually go for Barry M ones as they do a great range of colours and I got this limited edition one free yesterday because I spent over £6.

It’s called Sparkling ruby, it’s a lovely red with a sparkle in it. It’s great for this time of year, very Christmassy!

The clear nail varnish you see in the picture next to the red nail varnish is Maybellines Forever strong Super Stay top coat.  It keeps the nail varnish on well and adds a nice shine.

I brought myself an eye shadow pallet yesterday as I don’t actually own one. Again, this is Barry M and it’s their Naural Glow 2 eyeshadow & primer palette.

The colours are lovely, light and neutral sowork well for lots of looks. The dark colours are great for the corners of your eyes.

This is my new Barry M ‘Cor Balmy’ lip balm.  I already have the Rosie lea colour which is a lovely pink. Yesterday I brought this colour which is called Current bun, its got a nice purple tonge to itm They are really nice as they are a lip balm but give a subtle colour to your lips and go on really nicely.

Two of my make up staples are Body Shops bb cream as this isn’t heavy like a foundation but gives a nice even coverage and it changes to match your skin tone. I also like to use a rosy blusher on the apple of my cheeks.

This is a picture of me and my twin sister Sarah at my friends wedding, I really like my make up in this picture. I used my favourites that I mentioned above and some of my sisters eye shadow to create this look.

Sarah knows alot more about make up than me so she’s my go to if I need any tips or advice.

Check out her blog all about her make up choices at:

https://sarahscornerblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/whats-on-my-dressing-table-%f0%9f%92%81/

Or look for Sarahs corner blog on WordPress.

Thanks guys, let me know what your make up must haves are!

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

On Saturday we celebrated the wedding of Sam & Livy.

I’ve known Sam since I was 15/16 years old. We went to the same high school and when we went to Sixth form we, with my twin Sarah and bestie Roxy formed a strong friendship group, with a few others that we already knew and some we met along the way!

We’ve had so many fun times throughout the years and he is one of my closest friend so it was a privaledge to be able to share this special day with him and the lovely Livy.

Their wedding was at the beautiful Smeetham Hall Barn in Sudbury.

They had a marquee which was attached to the barn, it was lovely. We were in
the marquee to begin with and then took our seats ready for the ceremony to begin at 12.30.

Me and my twin sister Sarah waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Livy looked absolutely beautiful in her dress and the smile on Sams face when he saw her was lovely to witness. It was very emotional and with some musical performances from family members it was really special. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried, especially when Livy made her grand entrance.

The new Mr & Mrs Brooke.

Signing the register.

We had drinks, after the ceremony, in the marquee and congratulated the bride and groom (and yes I cried… again) before they had photos done.

Me& Tim ♡

Wedding selfie.

My gorgeous nephew having a run around.

The speeches were lovely to listen too and I think the grooms speech made everyone a bit tearful! After that it was time for the wedding breakfast, the tables looked lovely and my goodness was the food yummy.

Here’s what we had to eat:

Chicken and bacon salad with a yummy dressing and croutons!

Roast Pork with all the trimmings.

A trio of desserts, fruit jelly, cheesecake and a chocolate mousse in a dark chocolate cup.

So delicious!!

Then we had the lovely first dance…

…and the cutting of the cake!

And of course, after that all that was left to do was party!!

Having fun doing the barn dance!

The bride doing a twirl.

And of course another selfie!

We had such a lovely day and I loved seeing two of my friends so happy. They are so right for each other and I wish the new Mr and Mrs Brooke a lifetime of fun, laughter, love and happiness because they truly deserve it ♡

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂